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"I wouldn't even hesitate," I growl, grabbing the book from Miles. "Let's get this humiliating shitshow on the road. I've got a situation of my own to handle."
Chapter Three
Leia
"Crap." I grab Elysa's arm, dragging her into the cramped breakroom as a familiar set of broad shoulders steps out of Daniel Clifford's office. The stench of burnt coffee and old banana peels clogs my nose as my heart slams against my ribcage. A curious mix of excitement and existential dread rushes through me. "What is he doing here?"
Surely hockey players have more important things to do than harass reporters?
"Who?" Elysa shuffles me to the side to peer out of the narrow doorway. "Oh. Hello, daddy."
"Shh!" I haul her back into the room by her belt loops. "Don't let him see you."
"Okay, okay. Jeez, girl." She blinks inquisitive eyes at me before blowing strands of raven hair out of her face. "Care to tell me who he is and why we're hiding from him?"
"We aren't hiding. We're taking a break." We never take breaks in here, for obvious reasons. It's tiny, it stinks like Lawson's bananas, and there are no windows. It's just a wooden table, a fridge, and two benches. We prefer sunlight.
"Okay, then I'll just go out there and say hello." Elysa turns like she's going to make good on her threat. The flirty hem of her shirt flows around her as she spins.
Oh, she's good.
"Fine. We're hiding!" I squeak, grabbing her before she steps into the hallway and reveals my hiding place to the big jerk. I don't want to see him right now. Or maybe I do. Either way, I am so not going out there.
"I knew it! Who is he? Why are we hiding?" Her excited gaze flits across my face. "Is he the reason you've been acting weird all day?"
"I have not been acting weird." It's a total lie. I've been off my game all day. I didn't even hear Daniel calling my name at the staff meeting this morning. Copyediting sent my piece on Mina's Place, the new women's shelter opened by Autumn and Zane Montoya, back twice. And don't even get me started on the nine thousand times I've thought about the big jerk currently standing outside Daniel's office.
He did something to me last night, worked some sort of magic on me or cursed me. I don't know. But I can't keep him off my mind. I tossed and turned all night, thinking about his hard body pressed to mine.
It's infuriating. Truly. He's the last person I should be thinking about, considering what he thinks about me. The arrogant, bossy, ridiculously hot, grumpy jerk.
"Spill, Leia."
She's more tenacious than my five sisters combined.
"His name is Colter Bayliss. He plays for the Falcons. I met him last night when I snuck into their locker room. He was naked. And a jerk. It was a whole thing. The end," I relay as quickly and succinctly as possible.
Elysa's eyes nearly fall out of her head. "He was naked?"
"Can we please focus on what's important here?" I groan.
"Um…I don't know why that isn't your most important detail. Have you seen him?"
I shoot her a dirty scowl. "Did you miss the part where I said he was a jerk?"
"No, but I also heard the part where you said he was naked."
"I hate you."
"No, you don't. You hate that I'm right."
She's right. He's freaking hot…and even hotter naked, dang it.
"Why is he here?" Her brows furrow. "Oh my gosh. Is he trying to get you fired because you snuck into the locker room and saw him naked?"
"What? No, of course not. He's here because he's a crazy person. Obviously." I'm not sure why I think she's going to buy that non-explanation. She really is worse than my sisters when it comes to ferreting out the truth. Maybe she should be the one tailing Gavin while I answer the phones around here.
"Leia Marsh," she gasps. "Is he here looking for you because you snuck out on him?"
"No." His shouted promise that this isn't over echoes through my head. I'm guessing that's why he's here.
She crosses her arms, hitting me with a patented Elysa look that screams she doesn't believe a word I'm saying.
"I didn't sneak. I stormed out after he basically accused me of being a puck bunny," I sniff. "Like I said, he's a jerk."
"Oh." Her lips twitch. "You like him."
"I can't stand him."
"Mmhmm. Then why are we hiding in the breakroom?"
"I'm avoiding another prickly interaction with the grouch," I finally say. Oh, I'm a genius! I smile, pleased with myself for thinking that one up. For a minute there, I wasn't sure I had a reasonable explanation that didn't involve confessing to the rest of the humiliating night. I love Elysa, but I'm not ready to discuss the fact that Colter had his hands on my body. I do not want to dissect why I liked it. And I am taking the part about the security guard to my grave.
